Serial Killer Profile...
Early Warning Signs.

The "Serial Killer Profile" concept was first unveiled in 1984 by FBI agent Robert Ressler in an address to the International Association of Forensic Sciences. Ressler is credited with first using the term "Serial Killer".

Serial Killer Profile... What Makes Serial Killers Tick?

Robert Ressler conducted a study in the early 1980s of 36 imprisoned serial killers... he researched their upbringing, backgrounds and motives. Ressler and his colleagues gradually uncovered 10 prominent characteristics shared by many serial killers. From this he developed the concept of a serial killer profile.

Ressler was instrumental in setting up a centralized, national computer data-base that started collecting information related to unsolved killings from local police organisations across the U.S.A. This collection of data soon revealed similarities in many murders carried out in many different, scattered jurisdictions.

For the first time, patterns began to emerge of nomadic killers who were slipping under the radar on a local police level. And for the first time, Ressler suggested it may be possible to formulate a typical serial killer's profile from the data collected. This serial killer profile is still central to forensic psychology masters programs today.

Ressler & the Serial Killer Profile.

Ressler told the International Assoc. of Forensic Sciences that many serial killers displayed a history of a troubled childhood which resulted in characteristics such as:

• they often came from a dysfunctional family
• were often abused mentally, physically or sexually
• often were abandoned by the father and raised by a domineering mother
• did poorly at school
• usually hated their parents
• over 60% wet their beds past 12 years of age
• displayed a fascination with fire & destruction
• practised sadistic torture of animals
• often developed an early interest in porn
• developed early psychiatric problems
• had spent time in institutions.

Ressler listed 10 Characteristics of Serial Sex Murderers:

1. Over 90% were white males
   
   
2. Many had a high IQ
   
   
3. Despite the high IQ they often performed poorly at school, ended up in unskilled jobs, and had trouble keeping a job
   
   
4. Many came from a dysfunctional family, often with an absentee father and a domineering mother
   
   
5. Their fathers often also had psychiatric, criminal, or alcoholic histories
   
   
6. They often hated their parents
   
   
7. They were often abused as children
   
   
8. They were often in institutions, with signs of psychiatric problems
   
   
9. Attempted suicide at a higher rate
   
   
10. Showed an early interest in porn, fetishism, & voyeurism
    
    

Many serial killers are thought to sadistically dominate their victims in a quest for control, sexual gratification, and power (e.g. power of life or death) as a way of making up for their own deficiencies and psycho-pathologies.

While other offenders seek retribution or pay-back for abuse, neglect, or victimization inflicted upon them earlier in their lives.

Serial Killer Profile... In Their own Words.

The establishment of centralized national and international computer data-bases, together with the developement of a serial killer profile, has been a huge leap forward for law enforcement agencies.

CSI the TV Show:

Anatomy of a Real Investigation by the Calgary Police.
Published July 18, 2012